South Africa

This year 2013 theme for World Tourism Day highlights tourism’s role in water access as well as shines a spotlight on the actions presently being taken by the sector in order to subsidize to a more justifiable future for tourism & the environment, & also the challenges ahead.

World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 is being held under the theme Tourism & Water: Protecting our Common Future in sustenance of UN International Year of Water Cooperation.

The cheap tickets to Cape Town are always being superlative in enticing the travelers of the world to take part in several tourism activities. The well-being for the betterment of tourism is always being welcomed by the authorities in the recent past.

Tourism, if established responsibly, is a vehicle for positive change. It’s a sector that actually matters. It matters for its direct contribution to GDP has amplified to R84billion in 2011. It matters because it is a feasible employment sector for many people with speckled skill levels. It matters as it is a vehicle for optimistic change & upliftment of communities.

World Tourism Day is a decent time to reflect on the industry, new expansions & trends. Responsible tourism is about creating “better places for people to live in as well as superior places for people to visit” – in that order. It is about using tourism rather than being used by it. It is about ascertaining the locally significant issues & performing to deal with them.

South Africa & Cape Town in specific is familiar globally as the birthplace of Responsible Tourism. The theme for 2013’s World Tourism Day, is very pertinent to SA as water is one of scarcest resources. The air deals & so many promotional packages are always being available for the betterment of travel & tourism.

As tourism progress continues its upward trends, so does our responsibility to safeguard that its development has an optimistic rather than detrimental impact on our world. South Africa has achieved robust growth in tourism in the 1st quarter of this year, remaining the trend of the past year when the country experienced an extraordinary 10.2 per cent development in the number of international tourists.

If there is any place where there is just lots and lots of things to do it has got to be in South Africa. You can do almost anything under the sun in sunny South Africa.

There are numerous experiences that you may want to enjoy with your car rental and there is an endless list of activities to do too in South Africa. If you are an adventure sport fan there is all adventure you can think of. You can choose anything from bungee jumping to surfing from gliding to abseiling. There are general sports in every one of South Africa’s provinces. There is a cricket, rugby and soccer field everywhere you go in the country and to top it all South Africans are real adventure and sport fanatics.

You can enjoy any cuisine you like. Dotted across the country are restaurants that cater for almost every culture in the world from Asia to Europe. From Africa to America and our very own originally South African delectable dishes.

South Africa is unique - with a number of attractions you won't find anywhere else in the world…

TABLE MOUNTAINNo visit to Cape Town is complete without a trip up Table Mountain – home to some of South Africa's most breathtaking views. Take a guided walk on one of the many routes or simply ride the cable car to the top - it will be one of your lasting memories of SA.

ROBBEN ISLANDA short cruise from Cape Town's V&A Waterfront by ferry, this legendary island is a must-see on any newcomer's itinerary. This is where Nelson Mandela and his comrades were imprisoned for decades during the Apartheid era. Former inmates will take you on an insightful tour of the prison grounds. This historical island is now a World Heritage Site and a proclaimed nature conservation area.

THE GARDEN ROUTEFrom Cape Town along the coast to the Tsitsikamma Forest, this 600-kilometre stretch of small towns, wineries, farms and sea villages has been a traveller's delight for more than a century. Take your time, soak in the scenery, stay over in a guest-house, enjoy the cuisine and let South African hospitality take over. Hermanus, George, Wilderness and Knysna 

BEACHESFrom KwaZulu-Natal to the Wild Coast, from the Eastern Cape to the West Coast, South Africa boasts more than 3 000km of coastline. Pristine beaches, fishing communities, golf estates, luxury hotels and guest-houses dot the landscape as you explore the marine wonderland that is South Africa.

NAMAQUALAND
Every Spring (August to September), the Northern Cape comes alive with vast fields of daisies in a natural splash of vivid colour. Fed by winter rains, the flower grounds of Namaqualand are a photographer's delight.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARKAbout the size of Israel, the Kruger Park is the greatest of South Africa's many national parks which attract a great number of visitors intent on drinking in the wilderness. On guided walks, drives or self-drive, visitors have the best chance of spotting the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo) in this park.

THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS
A thousand kilometres of mountain majesty, the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) range is the adventure tourist's playground. It is also perfect for nature photography, easy walking and simple relaxation. Full of game sanctuaries, Bushman rock art sites, challenging peaks and cascading waterfalls, the views in the Drakensberg will compete with anything the rest of the world has to offer.

SOWETOJust South of Johannesburg lies Soweto - the largest of South Africa's “townships”. This vibrant city is home to some 2 million people and a number of historical sights. A typical visit to Soweto includes a stop at a traditional shebeen (drinking hall), where you can savour local beer, food and hospitality, as well as a visit to the homes where Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu once lived.

Tourism Booms, Turkey

"Turkey’s recent achievements in the field of tourism have made her a star in this highly competitive industry, not only in this important region, but also in the international tourism market. 

A good indicator of Turkey’s growing reputation as a tourism destination is the phenomenal average annual growth of its tourism sector. Tourism in Turkey has grown at an average of 11% in the last decade, a figure that substantially exceeds the world average and the European average as well." 

 "Hotel facilities have multiplied to keep up with this great surge in the number of tourists visiting Turkey. Hotels licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have a collective capacity of over 430,000 beds. With an additional capacity of 250,000 beds expected to be added by licensed establishments that are coming up in the near future, the total capacity will rise to 680,000 beds. In addition to this, licenced yachting enterprises account for a total of 10,000 beds." 

"As a multi-faceted destination, Turkey offers an extremely interesting mixture of attractions that will fascinate any tourist. Given the growing demands for more exotic vacations and destinations, Turkey offers the best of the East and the West, presenting a rich mixture of the ancient and the modern." 

"Turkey has been witness to innumerable events of historic and international importance. This colourful country also has some of the most celebrated monuments of the three great religions. This has led to Faith Tourism becoming a significant part of tourism in Turkey." 

Booms, Turkey

Tourism in Antarctica

The most visited part of Antarctica is the Antarctic Peninsular, opposite South America. The Antarctic Treaty provides guidelines, which have to be followed by tourists and expedition organizers. Tourist operators with small and medium size vessels active in Antarctica are usually members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), which has given itself more detailed guidelines, e.g. for watching and approaching wildlife. The number of tourists visiting Antarctica increased steadily since the 1950s and reached 46,000 in 2007/08, dropping slightly in recent years. The very exclusive opportunities of being close to wildlife and experiencing breathtaking landscapes lead to a high potential that Antarctic visitors get encouraged to support nature conservation, a potential the project "Linking Tourism & Conservation" intends to use and increase.

Distrito Federal, Brazil

The Federal District of Brazil is not a state, but stands apart as a district, reserved for Brazil’s capital city, Brasilia. As such, it cannot be divided into municipalities, but is split into 29 administrative regions. It is situated in the Central Plateau of this South American country. Brasilia is the home of the three branches of the Federal Government; namely the Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches. The Federal District of Brazil covers a total square kilometre area of 5 802, which is just over 2 200 square miles, and boasts a population of more than 2.4 million people. Although often understood to refer to one place, Brasilia and the Federal District are, in fact, separate entities as the Federal District comprises of places like Taguatinga and Guara in addition to Brasilia.

The history of the Federal District of Brazil is relatively young, since it is not a significant geographical area, but an administrative one. In April of 1960, the civil government was transferred from Catete Palace in Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia. Today, Rio is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro State. The government transferred some of its federal employees to the new capital, making up a large part of the population. Other major inhabitants of the Federal District included Candango workers, who were largely responsible for building Brasilia.

Today, the capital city, Brasilia, is a very structured one. Streets are not named but are assigned letters and numbers according to blocs and sectors. There are residential areas as well as commercial ones, and the Federal District is amply equipped with the necessary infrastructure to sustain its community. Due to overpopulation in Brasilia, many are being forced to move further afield. Almost 100% of the Brasilian residents stay in the urban epicentre.

The Federal District remains one of the architectural gems of South America. This is as a result of President Juscelino Kubitschek who, in 1956, asked the local architects to come up with innovative and creative projects for the new capital. The result continues to characterise the area to this day.Winter is this area’s dry season and is characterised by overwhelming humidity. This period lasts for half the year, as the Federal District of Brazil only has two main seasons (winter and summer). Because of the dry conditions, savannah grasslands form the most common type of vegetation in the area. In 1987, Brasilia was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Significantly, Brasilia will be one of the official Host Cities™ for the 2015 FIFA World Cup™.

Visitors to the Federal District of Brazil should visit the following popular tourist attractions:

• The City Park (Parque da Cidade) – over four million square metres to explore, including sports courts, racing kart track, playgrounds, walking trails and a horse track.
• Three Powers Square (Praça dos Três Poderes).
• The Brasilia Music Festival.

Ceará, Brazil

The eighth largest Brazilian state in terms of population is Ceará, which is situated on the Pacific coastline. Its capital is the vibrant city of Fortaleza, which alone has a population of well over three million people and is the fifth largest city in Brazil.

Although ‘discovered’ by Portuguese explorers in the early part of the 16th century, it was only successfully colonised in 1612 (by the Portuguese Martim Soares Moreno). This was during a time that this country was battling with Holland for political authority over South America. There were several attacks made by the Dutch during the 17th century, some even resulting in their settling in Ceará for some time. During the periods in which they had settled there, they founded Fortaleza, then called Fort Schoonenburg. However, their occupation of the area was always temporary. Eventually, in 1661, the Brazilian territory was formally handed over to the Portuguese, resulting in the cessation of the conflict that had existed for decades. Ceará was a dependency of Pernambuco until 1799, when the Captaincy of Ceará gained independence.

Then, when the entire country of Brazil was fighting for independence from European rule in the early 1800’s, Ceará was the site of a strong rebel force. In 1822, the region (captaincy) was declared a province. However, this only lasted for two years and, in 1924, the area was a republic. Significantly, Ceará was one of the very first places in the country to do away with the system of slavery.

The state of Ceará has a total area of just under 150 000 square kilometres. It is bordered by Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Piauí as well as by the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Its beautiful coast stretches for an impressive 573 kilometres and attracts locals and tourists alike to share in the pristine beauty of these beaches. Other parts of the state lie on the Brazilian Highlands, which consist of high mountains and deep valleys. These highlands produce rich foliage, much of which bears edible fruit for consumption and export. Ceará is not particularly rich in rivers. Those that do exist are usually small and dry up in the driest months. The most significant river in terms of size is Jaguaribe.

The vegetation of this state varies from mangroves and jungles to scrublands and dense tropical forests. Caatinga is another prevalent form of vegetation in Ceará, and is characterised by scrubby forests. This is a type of vegetation that is endemic to Brazil. This state suffers from very dry, harsh conditions during some seasons, resulting in the desertification of many areas at these times. In general, the climate is humid on the coast and dry further inland, but always hot. The average noon temperature is between 33 and 40 degrees Celsius. The rainy season is between January and June, while July to December is the dry season.

The service sector is the most dominant industry player, making up more than 50% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This is followed by industry, agriculture and export. Ceará exports, amongst other products, leather shoes, crustaceans, cashew nuts and fruit.

The main tourist attractions in Ceará include:

• Canoa Quebrada Beach
• Morro Branco
• Praia Do Futuro
• The colonial buildings of Aracati
• The House of Miracles in Fortaleza

Bahia, Brazil

Bahia is situated on the coast, with the turquoise Atlantic Ocean lapping at its shores. This state is in the northeast of Brazil, South America. Bahia is the fourth most populous Brazilian state. Its capital city is São Salvador da Bahia de Todos os Santos, commonly shortened to Salvador. It is bordered by Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Piauí, Goiás, Tocantins, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. The name, Bahia, means “bay” and refers to the sight of the bay that the first European explorers stumbled across in 1501.

 Once found, Bahia was claimed by the Portuguese. Under their rule, the city of Salvador was established, and thereafter became the administrative and religious epicentre of all of the Portuguese-owned areas in the Americas. Between the 1500’s and 1700’s, Bahia was a prime area for its sugar plantations and industry, translating to an enormous influx of

 people, including African slaves. Even after the rest of Brazil had gained independence from Portuguese rule, Bahia remained loyal to the Europeans. It was only much later (in 1823) that this area became independent.

The Atlantic Forest makes up the vast majority of Bahia’s natural landscape. There is a chain of mountains, called Chapada Diamantina, which winds its way through the state. This range divides the state into an east section and a west section. The east is rich and fertile with regular rain, while the west is less developed and harsher in terms of its natural vegetation. The west is arid, but enjoys the supply of water that it receives from the São Francisco River. The coastline is the longest in Brazil, measuring over 1 100 kilometres, or 685 miles. In general, the climate in Bahia is Tropical.

In terms of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), the industrial sector is the most significant player. This is followed by agriculture, and the export of chemicals, fuels, paper, cacao, and so on. Bahia produces and exports more cacao than any other state in Brazil.

The main regions of Bahia comprise:

• The Coconut Coast – named as such for its extensive coconut groves, this area is on the coast and also boasts glorious rivers and impressive sand dunes.
• All Saints Bay – this is the largest bay on the coast of the country and is home to 56 islands. It is popular for its water sports and tropical beaches.
• Dendê Coast – this area has an array of different floral species. It provides the ideal escape for tourists wanting to relax on deserted beaches or walk through dense rain forests.
• Cacao Coast – pristine beaches are lined with coconut groves in this ecological wonderland. Wetland forests and cacao groves combine with reefs, rivers and islands for gorgeous vistas.
• The Discovery Coast – excursions along the cliffs, beaches and river beds are a must in this unspoilt part of Bahia.
• The Whale Coast – as its name implies, this area is ideal for whale watching between July and November, attracting visitors from all over the world during this peak season.
• The Diamantina Tableland Region – this is a particularly mountainous area that is traversed by thousands of kilometres of fresh water rivers.

Amazonas, Brazil

The largest state in Brazil is Amazonas, which is bordered by Roraima, Pará, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Acre, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. This state is situated in the northwest of this South American country. As its name implies, this state is almost entirely covered by the Amazon Rainforest and enjoys the splendour of the massive Amazon River, which winds its way through Brazil, bringing with it an array of species from the plant and animal kingdoms. In addition, this area is notable for being the home of Brazil’s highest mountain, Pico da Neblina, which is 2 994 metres, or 9 823 feet, above sea level.

During the 15th century, the entire area of the Amazon basin belonged to Spain. However, it was only in the following century that explorers began to traverse this intriguing countryside, investigating its natural abundance and its suitability for settling and for various trade opportunities. With the goal of introducing Christianity to the native people that were living in the jungles, several Spanish mission stations were established, bringing with them lay preachers and missionaries from Europe. These ones eventually settled, creating a new generation of children from mixed origin.

Over the decades and centuries that followed, Amazonas was a topic of dispute, as different European entities vied for political control. Slavery and deforestation plagued this state, along with many others in Brazil. During the 1800’s, Amazonas experienced an influx of people from around the world, who held high hopes for their part in the rubber boom.

Today, the capital city of Amazonas is Manaus. This was once a very rich city and was, at one stage, more advanced than the likes of London, England. Once the rubber rush was over, though, this epicentre became somewhat neglected and derelict. Still, it is home to approximately 17 million people today.

Amazonas is subtropical, meaning that it is hot and humid. These conditions are experienced all year round, with no dry season. The vegetation is made up almost entirely of tropical rainforest comprises 1) submerged land, 2) land that is only submerged during very wet seasons and 3) low plateaus.

There are currently just under 3.5 million inhabitants in Amazonas. The major cities in this state include Benjamin Constant, Tefé, Lábrea, Eirunepe, Manicoré, Itacoatiara and Parintins. The population in Amazonas was boosted in an enormous way during the rubber boom, with a huge population in numbers during the 20th century. Over three quarters of the residents of this state are in urban areas, while less than 20% live in the more rural countryside. .

In terms of the Gross Domestic Product (or GDP), the industrial sector is the largest in the state, representing about 70%. This is followed by the service and agricultural sectors. Cassava and oranges are two of its main agricultural products.

Suggested tourist activities in Amazonas:

• Tour the rain forests and experience the array of plant and animal life contained within
• Go fishing on the Rio Negro River, home to an abundance of fish species